| 173. |
(1) |
Subject
to the provisions of this Constitution, the Supreme
Congress of the People may regulate its own procedure
and may make rules for that purpose. |
Regulation
of procedure. |
|
(2) |
The
Supreme Congress of the People may act notwithstanding
any vacancy in its membership (including any vacancy
not filled when the Congress first meets after any dissolution
of Parliament) and the presence or participation of
any person not entitled to be present at or to participate
in the proceedings of the Congress shall not invalidate
those proceedings. |
| 174. |
(1) |
All
questions proposed for decision in the Supreme Congress
of the People shall be determined by a majority of the
votes of the members present and voting. |
Voting. |
|
(2) |
The
Chairman of the Supreme Congress of the People shall
not vote unless on any question the votes are equally
divided, in which case he shall have and exercise a
casting vote. |
| 175. |
|
If
objection is taken by any member of the Supreme Congress
of the People that there are present in the Congress
(besides the person presiding) less than one-third of
all the members of the Congress and, after such interval
as may be prescribed in the rules of procedure of the
Congress, the person presiding ascertains that there
are still present less than one-third of all the members,
he shall thereupon adjourn the Congress. |
Quorum. |
| 176. |
(1) |
Parliament
may by law determine the privileges, immunities, and
powers of the Supreme Congress of the People and the
members thereof. |
Privileges
of the Supreme Congress of the People. |
|
(2) |
No
civil or criminal proceedings may be instituted against
any member of the Congress for words spoken before or
written in a report to, the Congress or to a committee
thereof or by reason of any matter or thing brought
by him therein by petition, resolution, motion or otherwise. |
|
(3) |
For
the duration of any session members of the Congress
shall enjoy freedom from arrest for any civil debt. |
|
(4) |
No
process issued by any court in the exercise of its civil
jurisdiction shall be served or executed within the
precincts of the Congress while the Congress is sitting
or through the Chairman, the Clerk or any officer of
the Congress. |
